Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI shows missing right trigeminal nerve ganglion in young female
By Jarvis, Jack H M et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2026·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in a Case of Presumed Unilateral Trigeminal Ganglion Aplasia in a 3-Year-Old Female French Bulldog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3-year-old female French Bulldog was brought to the vet after suddenly losing the ability to walk. The dog had a long history of eye problems, specifically dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), and during the exam, the vet noticed she had no feeling in her face and cornea on the right side. An MRI scan showed that the right trigeminal ganglion, a nerve important for facial sensation, was severely underdeveloped or missing. This condition is very rare but can be linked to her ongoing eye issues. Unfortunately, the abstract does not provide information on treatment or recovery.
People also search for: French Bulldog nonambulatory · dog facial sensation loss · dry eye treatment in dogs · MRI findings in dogs · dog eye problems and walking issues
Abstract
A young female French bulldog with a history of chronic right keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) because since birth was referred for an acute onset of nonambulatory tetraparesis. Right trigeminal nerve sensory deficits, including right corneal anesthesia and absent facial sensation, were identified during examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neurocranium was performed, revealing severe hypoplasia to the absence of the right trigeminal ganglion, consistent with reports of congenital trigeminal hypoplasia/aplasia in human medicine. This represents a very rare but important differential in young patients with a history of non-responsive KCS, recurrent or slow healing corneal ulceration, and absent corneal sensation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41689776/